I have an amazing group of girlriends that I’ve met through the running community. We are all in different stages of life and running is what ties us together. Each week we formed a bond through our training. I can’t even count the number of finish lines I’ve crossed with them. They’ve become my tribe. Nothing has stopped us from our running goals. We’ve trained after sleepless nights, heartbreak, family stress and – of course – our periods. Our monthly flow doesn’t slow us down. Running on your period doesn’t have to be awful. I admire athletic women who power through their periods to achieve new levels of greatness in their field of sport.
5 Tips for Running on Your Period and Feel Good
Personally, I rely on U by Kotex® FITNESS* to keep me going when it’s that time of the month. They are changing the way women experience periods. The launch of U by Kotex® FITNESS* serves athletes with features designed specifically for active women:
- The NEW U by Kotex® FITNESS* Tampons come with a plastic FITPAK* so you can protect your protection. Durable, compact, and discreet, FITPAK* is designed to keep your tampons ready for use, wherever you stash them. I throw them in my gym bag.
- The NEW U by Kotex® FITNESS* Liners have DualFlex Zones* that move with you to keep protection where you need it most.
- NEW U by Kotex® FITNESS* Ultra Thin Pads are shaped to fit and flex with your body, to stay in place so you don’t have to. That makes me feel confident when I’m cross training with Pilates.
Between cramping, bloating, irritability and fatigue, it takes a lot of strength to power through your period. I’m sharing my 6 tips to keep you running when your period has you feeling run down. Use these tips to keep logging those miles, regardless of what the calendar says!
How to Feel Good While Running on Your Period
- Listen to Your Body. You don’t have to miss a workout when you’re on your period, but if you need to scale your workout back, don’t feel guilty! If I’m having a heavy month, I cut back my mileage for a few days.
- Don’t Neglect Warming Up. If you have period cramps, it’s important to warm up help them go away and not affect your performance. A heating pad or warming up with a brisk walk will help to increase your circulation. I prefer to workout during my period. I find that I get less cramps when I do!
- Avoid Junk Food. I know this is a hard one, but it’s important to keep eating nutritious foods and avoid the junk. Excess sodium and sugar will only work against you. You’ll feel far more sluggish.
- Start Fresh. I like to start my workout with a fresh U by Kotex® FITNESS* tampon. That way I feel confident that I can go the extra mile without needing to stop and change anything.
- Stay Hydrated. Your hormones are fluctuating and you sweat during intense workouts. Keeping hydrated will help your body function. You want to replace fluids as you lose them. This will also help keep any bloating at bay.
Join other women, on social media, who power through their periods too. You can be a part of the conversation, by using the hashtag, #FindYourFITNESS. Need some #fitspiration? Check out thePlaybook with tips, advice and more at UByKotex.com.
If you’re always on the run, read my Race Day Essentials list!